Mountain Views News          Saturday, August 24, 2013

11

THE GOOD LIFE

 Mountain Views News Saturday, August 24, 2013 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

HEALTH EXCHANGE SHOPPING TIPS FOR 

UNINSURED BOOMERS AND EARLY RETIREES

 By Pat Birdsall

FYI - GARDNERS BEWARE

 I started out to write a piece about how gardeners like you and me, can put bee friendly plants in 
our gardens and eventually turn the tide in the eradication of thousands of bee colonies nationwide. 
Well, isn’t Pollyanna just alive and well! I can’t believe how naïve I was. Was, is the key word…The 
very plants I was going to suggest to you most likely would be purchased at a big box store in the area. 
Upon further reading I was totally shocked that virtually all of the plants I was going to recommend 
have been pre-treated with pesticides shown to harm and kill bees! All without the customer ever being 
informed! 

 Maybe you have heard of neonic pesticides, but I had not. Neonics are chemically related to nicotine. 
I know first-hand what harm nicotine causes. The substance remains in the plants and the soil and can 
continue to affect all pollinators for months to years after the treatment. The brand names are familiar 
to us all and for monetary reasons they don’t want their names bandied about, but they’re easy to 
find. The companies are also ready to blame parasites rather than their pesticides for the bee colonies 
demise. The jury is still out…

 The bottom line is this; Bees and other pollinators are essential for the two-thirds of the food crops 
humans eat every day and they are in great peril…populations are dwindling worldwide. You can 
help. The new U.S. campaign can be found at: www.beeaction.org A lot of information can also be 
gotten at www.hortweek.com where I got a lot of information for this article. Please get involved; the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has delayed action until 2018, do the bees have that long?

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HELPFUL HINT: Tub & Shower Magic: Mix original blue Dawn with vinegar in a spray 
bottle… Fill half the bottle with vinegar and heat it carefully in the microwave. Fill the other half 
with blue Dawn and shake gently to mix. Just spray it on, scrub, rinse and be amazed. It also works 
on appliance and just about anything else.

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FOR YOUR FUNNY BONE - Two campers were hiking in the woods when one is 
bitten on the rear end by a rattlesnake. “I’ll go into town for a doctor,” the other says. He runs ten 
miles to a small town and finds their only doctor delivering a baby. “I can’t leave,” the doctor says. 
“But here’s what to do. Take a knife, cut a little x where the bite is, suck out the poison and spit it 
on the ground.” The guy runs back to his friend, who says in agony. “What did the doctor say?” the 
victim cries. “He says you’re going to die.”

 ~ ~ ~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! … August Birthdays

Karlene Englert, Juanita Fernandez, Jeanette Francis, Joseph Kiss, John Luke, Jacquie Pergola, 
Maury Whitaker, Pat Miranda, Phyllis Chapman, Jerry Burnett, Margaret Aroyan, 
Phyllis Burg, Beverly Clifton, Rosemary Marabito, Susan Poulsen, Dorothy Quentmeyer, 
Genevieve Stubbs, Miep Tulleners, Joy Barry, Ellie Baudino, Marcia Bent, Daryls Brechwald, 
Joan Spears, Ruth Torres, Jane Zamanzadeh ,Harry Enmark and Estelle Sykes. 

* To add your name to this distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. YEAR of birth not 
required.

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Quote of the Week: “A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the 
nicest things you can be.” ~ Douglas Pagels

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ACTIVITIES: Unless listed differently, all activities are at the Hart Park House 
(Senior Center) 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre

 

 YMCA San Gabriel Valley Intervale Senior Café: Monday-Friday at 12:00 Noon 

(Participants are urged to arrive no later than 11:45 A.M.) 

All seniors 60 and up can take part in the lunch program. There is a suggested donation 
of $2.00 for those 60 and over and $3.75 for non-senior guests. Daily

 reservations are necessary as space is limited. 

 Please call 24 hours in advance...626.355.0256

Free Balance Class: Every 3rd Monday for 11:00 am to 11:45 am with Shannon Vandevelde. A 
variety of balance exercises are practiced; all ability levels are encouraged and welcomed. 

NEW!

Get fit, Have Fun with Zumba Gold

Zumba Gold is a low impact fitness class based on Latin and World Music. The upbeat music creates 
a fun atmosphere with easy to follow dance moves that will have you toning your body and improving 
your stamina and balance from your very first class. No dance experience is necessary and all fitness 
levels are welcome. Class is held Mondays from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.Next session begins in September. 
$30.00 class fee. For more information or to sign up call the Community Services Department at 
(626) 355-5278.

Free Blood Pressure Testing: This month only! Thursday, August 15th 11:00 am-12:00 pm: A nurse 
from Methodist Hospital, Arcadia volunteers to do the readings. No appointment necessary.

 

Bingo: Every Tuesday afternoon from 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm Cards are only .25c each! 

Free Chair Yoga: New Hours: 11:00 to 11:45 Every Wednesday morning. Join Paul Hagen for this 
free class that focuses on senior yoga techniques. No reservation is necessary!

Free Legal Consultation: Pasadena attorney Geoffrey Chin volunteers on the 2nd Wednesday of 
the month. He focuses on estate planning, trusts, wills, probate, conservatorships and business law. 
*Appointments are a must! Please call: 626.355.7394 to make yours* Conflicting court schedules 
can occasionally cause cancellations.

Lunch and Learn: Wednesday, August 28th- 12:15 to 1:00 PM

“You Are What You Eat”- Hart Park House-Senior Center- Listen to Victoria Pacheco, a licensed 
Registered Dietician from Methodist Hospital, as she shares information on senior nutrition and brain 
health. For adults over 50, the benefits of healthy eating include increased mental acuteness, resistance 
to illness and disease, higher energy levels, faster recuperation times and better management of 
chronic health problems. As we age, eating well can also be the key to a positive outlook and staying 
emotionally balanced. But healthy eating doesn’t have to be about dieting and sacrifice. Whatever 
your age, eating well should be about fresh, colorful food, creativity in the kitchen and eating with 
friends. If you would like to have lunch during the talk, please make a lunch reservation with the 
Senior Lunch Cafe at 626.355.0256 or bring your own.

Birthday Celebrations: The 2nd Thursday of the month the Senior Center celebrates the birthdays of 
our patrons at 12:30 pm. Please join us for free cake and ice cream and “celebration.” (The cakes are 
provided due to a generous donation from the Sierra Madre Civic Club.)

Game Day: Every Thursday at 1:00pm. Poker is usually the game of choice, or should I say chance? 
Board games and other card games are also available. Outside, on the patio, a beautiful, one-of-a-kind 
chess table is anxious for players.

Free Strength Training Class: Every Friday from 1:00 pm -1:45 pm Conducted by long-time 
volunteer, Lisa Brandley. The class utilizes light weights for low-impact resistance training. Weights 
are provided by the Sierra Madre Senior Center. It’s a great way to stay in shape and to

 socialize with your peers. 

Senior Citizens Club: Every Saturday at the Hart Park House (Senior Center). Brown bag lunch at 
11:30am; Club meeting at Noon; Bingo 12:30- 3:30 pm. Only .25c per card… For more information 
call Pat Birdsall at 626.355.7290.

UPCOMING EXCURSIONS:

USS Iowa (San Pedro) Date: Friday, August 16, 2013 Time: 9:30 am to 3:00 pm

Meeting Location: Hart Park House Cost: $32.00 (Does not include lunch)

 Don’t miss the trip to the USS Iowa, designated as the “World’s Greatest Naval Ship” 
due to her big guns, heavy armor, fast speed, longevity and modernization. Visitors will 
enjoy a comprehensive tour of the ship lead by an educated docent. In addition, several short films 
on the history of USS Iowa will be shown providing an abundance of information on this historical 
ship. Lunch will not be provided, but please bring $15-$29 for lunch at the Whale and Ale. Last day 
to register is Thursday, August 1st, but those interested can be added to the wait list. (Should someone 
cancel, the waitlist participants can fill the spot).

Save the Dates!

Friday, September 13, 2013- Riley’s Farm (Oak Glen, Ca.)

Saturday, October 12, 2013- Oktoberfest (Big Bear, Ca.)

*Registering for Excursions can be done in person at the Hart Park House Senior Center and the 
Community Recreation Center or online at www.cityofsierramadre.com Cash, checks, and credit 
cards are accepted. Make checks payable “City of Sierra Madre”. Payment must be made at the time of 
reservation. CALL (626) 355-7394

 

Senior Movie Program: 

FREE movies are chosen by the seniors themselves and shown on the 1st and 
3rd Wednesdays of the month in Sierra Madre’s City Council Chambers, 232 W. 
Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre. ~ Start time is 1:00pm ~

August 21st: An Affair to Remember (1957)

Starring, Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr High profile types both engaged to be 
married to other people meet and fall in love during an ocean voyage.To test 
the depth of their commitment to each other, Grant and Kerr promise that, if 
they’re still in love at the end of six months, they will meet again at the top of the 
Empire State Building. (Not rated)… Bring Kleenex

Start time: 1:00 pm (run time is 119 minutes)

Dear Savvy Senior: At age 62, I will be retiring at 
the end of the year and plan to enroll in Obamacare 
until my Medicare kicks in. Can you offer me 
any advice on choosing a plan? Almost Retired

Dear Almost:

The new health insurance exchanges – also 
known as Obamacare – that begin in 2014 will 
have a significant impact on millions of Americans 
who need health insurance, especially pre-
Medicare retirees and uninsured baby boomers 
who often have a difficult time finding affordable 
coverage. 

To help ensure you get the best health insurance 
coverage that fits your needs, here are some 
things you should know.

Health Exchange Overview

Starting Oct. 1, you will be able to shop for health 
insurance policies, and enroll in one directly 
through your state’s Health Insurance Marketplace 
website, over the phone, via mail or in person 
at a designated center. The coverage will go 
into effect on Jan. 1, 2014. 

You can also be reassured to know that federal 
law prohibits Marketplace insurers from denying 
you coverage or charging you higher rates 
if you have a pre-existing health condition. But 
they are permitted to set premiums up to three 
times higher for applicants over the age of 50, and 
smokers may be charged up to 50 percent more 
than nonsmokers. 

To help make coverage affordable, sliding scale 
tax-credits will be available if you earn less than 
400 percent of the poverty level – that’s $45,960 
for a single person and $62,040 for couples. These 
tax-credit subsidies will provide immediate savings 
off your monthly premiums. See the Kaiser 
Family Foundation online calculator (kff.org/
interactive/subsidy-calculator) for a premium 
estimate. 

Every state will have a Marketplace, but each state 
can choose how it will operate. Seventeen states 
and the District of Columbia will run their own 
state-based Marketplace, seven states will partner 
with the federal government, and 26 states will 
offer federal Marketplaces. The differences between 
federal and state programs will be subtle. 
You will be able to access your state’s marketplace 
at Healthcare.gov.

Policy Choices

To make shopping and comparing a little easier, 
the health plans will be divided into four different 
levels – bronze, silver, gold and platinum. The 
bronze plan will have the lowest monthly premiums 
but the highest out-of-pocket costs when 
you need care, while the platinum plans will have 
the highest premiums with the lowest out-of-
pocket costs.

You will also have a variety of health insurance 
companies to select from. To help you evaluate 
insurers, the nonprofit National Committee for 
Quality Assurance offers online “report cards” at 
ncqa.org that can help you narrow your choices.

Because most plans will be managed-care policies 
such as HMOs or PPOs that require you to 
get your care within a network of providers, you’ll 
want to make sure that the doctors and hospitals 
you typically use are covered in the plans you’re 
considering. The new Marketplace plans are expected 
to offer fewer choices of health-care providers, 
and who’s included may vary quite a bit.

You also need to find out what happens if you 
want to use a doctor or hospital outside a plan’s 
network. Will you have to get a referral or pay 
more to get these services, or will it even be covered 
at all?

Also check the plan’s formulary, which is the list 
of prescription drugs they cover, to be sure all the 
medications you take are covered without excessive 
co-pays or requirements that you try less expensive 
drugs first. 

Get Help

If you need some help with all this, the Marketplace 
Help Center offers a toll-free helpline at 
800-318-2596. Or, if you’d rather get face-to-face 
assistance, there will be designated centers set up 
with trained and certified navigators, counselors 
and application assistors to help you, along with 
insurance agents and brokers. To find help in 
your area, call the Marketplace Help Center after 
Oct. 1 for a referral.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, 
Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a 
contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy 
Senior” book.


KATIE Tse.....................This and That

“FISH!” And Other Advances in Civility!

 I have no complaints about my job. Heck, I’m grateful just to be employed! 
There are many people on staff, and quite a few I hardly know because we rarely 
work together. Although no one has a particularly bad attitude, there isn’t really 
much camaraderie between coworkers. Since our boss is retiring and a new guy 
is coming in, two of my coworkers and I decided now would be a great time to 
introduce a plan to improve the emotional climate of our workplace!

 We didn’t have a real “plan,” but Bruce (not his real name) offered to bring 
in a book he’d received at a professional development training. Oh no, I thought! There are few 
experiences more boring than staff development trainings! Granted, there’ve been the exceptional 
few speakers who’ve inspired me to give a shot at whatever they were suggesting. But those were the 
exceptions. 

 I recalled my mom telling me about 
when her school attempted to adopt Stephen 
Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. 
Don’t get me wrong, I totally agree with 
the habits he recommends, such as taking 
responsibility for your actions rather 
than blaming others, being proactive, 
and communicating respectfully. Covey 
is essentially marketing basic manners of 
civility your parents should have taught 
you. It’s kind of like another “breakthrough” 
literacy program they adopted that included 
a diagram of two intersecting circles called 
“The Double Bubble Map.” I’m sorry, but 
that’s a Venn diagram. If you’re going to use 
it, at least give Venn credit!

 Such thoughts were running through 
my mind when Bruce let me borrow his 
copy of Fish! A Remarkable Way to Boost 
Morale and Improve Results by Stephen C. 
Lundin, Harry Paul, and John Christensen. 
And I must say, reading it was a pleasant 
surprise. The Fish! “philosophy” started 
with the fishmongers at Pikes Place Market 
in Seattle. Could you imagine a more 
laborious, mundane existence than lugging 
around heavy, frozen fish? Yet, in this 
unlikely environment, the workers decided 
to rise above their circumstances and treat 
the customers, and each other, with sincere respect and compassion -- and they even have fun doing 
it! Other businesses asked them what made their fish company so exceptional. The fishmongers 
distilled their philosophy down to four principles: Be there, Make their day, Choose your attitude, 
and Play. The first two principles stress the importance of selflessness, thinking of the other person 
first. You respect others by making time to give them your undivided attention. You also empathize 
with others by striving to encourage them, even if that means just holding the door open and smiling. 

 Like Covey, these concepts are nothing new. Also, I really can’t critique Covey’s work, because I 
haven’t read it. I’m only going off my mom’s account of practicing the 7 Habits. One of their exercises 
involved sitting in a circle and passing around a “talking stick.” Each staff member was given one to 
keep. They looked like small, ornately carved totem poles (talk about marketing!). I’m sure Covey’s 
7 Habits are all admirable, but one of the beauties of Fish! is its brevity (the film is only 18 minutes 
long) and simplicity (4 principles versus 7).

 In the end, any “training” of this sort is going to be, at least partially, “preaching to the choir.” The 
people who are already putting others before themselves and showing compassion will feel validated. 
For others, if they didn’t learn basic manners as children, no amount of educating is going to change 
them. And then there are the people who will adopt these principles almost by osmosis when they 
see others doing so. Thank God that there usually aren’t very many people in the second group!

 Really, an even simpler version of all this can be summed up in “Do to others what you would have 
them do to you.” This may sound similar to older spiritual teachings such as to not cause harm, steal, 
or do anything you wouldn’t want someone to do to you. Living by those principles, you would not 
steal or do hateful things to others. In contrast, living by the former principles, you would give to 
others and find ways to show your love for them. Jesus had it right the first time.